Internal-combustion engine



W. H. HENDERSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE March 1,1921. 1,619,071

Filed June 27, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zf. J/

W. H. HENDERSON "Mafch 1, 1927. 1,619,071

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jung 27, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILBURN H. HENDERSON, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to internal combustion engines.

Among the objects of the invention, the

following may scavenging and great capacity; large tively movable parts; 'ce'ss1b1lity for cleaning and cheap construction from the be enumerated; complete fuel economy; greater power structural strength for weight; ports of seating surfaces of relamarkedly increased acgrinding meetsurfaces; high compression; simple and manufacturing standpoint; and symmetrical design,

With the above and other ob ects 1n vlew,

the

t tion invention consists in the novel construccombination and arrangement herein described, shown and claimed. 7

In the accompanying drawlngs ig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through the improved .engine.

the

lg. 52 is a fragmentary vertical longitudise'ction thereof. ig. 3 is a vertical cross section through multiple cylinder head showing a part of the cooling means.

ig. l is aldiagram. showing the four es of movement of the cylinder head and intake, compression, firing and exhaust positions thereof.

ig. 5 is a fragmentary, broken away perspective view showing the preferred contour of the upper part of the cylinders with valye.

ig. 6 is an outside face view of one of the engine parts.

he invention is shown as applied to the tandem multiple cylinder internal combustion engine to which the improved features admirably lend themselves.

It is to be observed, however, that the prmciplesof the invention .are capable .of

crankcase 2 and contains by a connecting rod use inengines of or more cylinders. ach of the cylinders 1 is secured to a a piston 3 coupled 4 to the crank shaft 5 in accordance with engineering practice. Eachcylinder has a surrounding water jacket 6.

In carrying outthe invention the valve member 7 is of hollow cylindrical formation and The to a rotates in relation to the cylinders 1. upper part of each cylinder is enlarged llow for the formation at the top thereof of a concave seat 8 fitting closely the periphery of the valve member? as shown in Fig.

1. l he enlarged upper part of the cylinder 1923. Serial No. 648,047.

is also formed with an intake passage 9 at one side, and an exhaust 10 at the opposite side. It will be noted that the passages 9 and 10 are quite large thereby allowing for free movement of the inflowing and exhaust gases. in place by a substantially cylindrical housing cap 11 removably held by bolts 12 or their equivalent;

For each cylinderl, the valve member 7 is formed with three (more orless) combustion chambers 13 each cup shaped and approximately hemispherical and said head is rotated byany suitable gearing at one sixth crank shaft speed; therefore, during each complete cycle of operation including intaking, compressing, firing and exhausting, one only of said'combustion chambers 13 is moved into and out of registry with the respective cylinder 1. e

The spaces 14 between the combustion chambers 13 provide for'the circulating of the cooling agent (usuallywater) and are designed to leave a suficient and uniform thickness of wall 15 to allow for -eflicient cooling of the Walls of the combustion chambers;

To obtain of each piston 3 is made concave at 16 to conform to the arc of the periphery of the valve member 7, as shown in Fig. 1. Any required distance and-space may be left between the piston and cylinder head for final compression.

Complete scavenging of each combustion chamber'is effected as follows. Surmounting the housing cap 11 is anair conduit 17 of lightweight sheet material fastened to the cap 11. Through the conduit 17 a constant flow of cool air is forced by the action of one or" more fans or air propellers 18 upon and driven by a rotary shaft 19 which may be geared to any rotating element of the engine.

An opening 20 is made in the housing cap 11 above each cylinder 1, and an air deflecting flange or projection 21 is arranged in the conduit above each opening 20, leaving a Venturi passage which increases the velocity of the cooling air stream as 1t'pass-es each combustion chamber. Therefore, as eachcombustion chamber registers with the opening 20, as indicated in Fig. 1, and also in second, third and fourth pos tions of Fig. gsaid combustion chamber is completely The valve member 7 is held securely high compression the upper end scavenged of all burned gases and cooled and can thereafter receive a full clean charge as it passes the inlet passage 9.

The cooling of the cylinder head is effected by a flow or water through the head and against the Walls of all the combustion chambers. Any means may be used to cause circulation of the cooling water, as for example propelling vanes or blades 22 projecting within the hollow or tubular portions of the valve member see Figs.@ and to force the water along its route to a cooling radiator (not shown). Ports 23 in the valvemember I ailord communication between the interior of the valve member 7 and the cylinder water jacket 6.

Intertitting non-leak annular stops or ribs Q l-may be used on the meeting i aces of the valve member 7 and the seating surfaces therefor as indicated in F 2.

To obtain quick opening and closing of the intake and exhaust ports of the engine and the bore of each cylinder, said ports and passages may be of rectangular contour as shown. best in Figs. 5 and 6. The shape of an intake port is shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 5 shows a corresponding shape for the upper end portion of the cylinder bore, the metal being milled out so as to present four straight sides or edges 25 opposite ones of which are parallel.

The cycle of operation ol the engine is diagrammatically shown in Fig. l, In position one, a compression chamber is fully registered with the cylinder bore and the piston is at the firing point. In the second position the piston is at the end of the firing stroke and the head is just cracking open the exhaustpassage. In the third position the exhaust stroke is completed and the head is cracking open the intake passage. In the fourth position tne piston has completed its suction stroke and the head has closed the intake passage. The full cycle is then repeated indefinitely. Three complete cycles of operation are had for each and every complete revolution 01" the valve member 7.

Before each combustion chamber is returned to functioning position, shown in Fig. 1, it is effectively cooled by the action of water and cool air, and is conmletelv scavenged by a blast of cool air.

The con truction described and shown enables the valve member Tto be ground to a seat in the same manner a crank shaft bearing, the housing cap 11 being removable for that purpose. The engine is especially adapted for aircraft on account of its light weight for horsepower developed and econonly in fuel consumption due to high compression, The combustion chamber is almost spherical in shape permitting ready combustion. A new charge will not be diluted by the hot residue of anold charge, thus admitting of higher compression as well as fuel economy. This will materially increase the radius of cruising and climbing efiiciency of the engine. The way of valving the gas, both intake and exhaust, renders the engine practically noiseless and gives a great range of speed on the engine shaft.

Carbon may be removed through the exhaust port without demounting a single part or the engine, either by burning or scraping. Lubrication of bearing surfaces of the engine may be obtained by the usual automotive methods.

1. lln an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston, arvalve member rotatable in relation to the cylinder and having acombustion chamber which moves into and out oi registry with the bore of the cylinder, means internal of said valve member for constantly cooling the walls of said combustion chamber, and means for inducing a flow of cool air over the outer walls of said valve member.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston, a valve member rotatable in relation to the cylinder and having a combustion chamber which moves into and out of registry with the bore of the cylinder, means internal of said valve member for constantly circulating a cooling agent about the walls of said combustion chamber, and means for inducing a flow of cool-air over the outer walls of said valve member.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston, a valve member rotatable in relation to the cylinder and having a combustion chamber which moves into and out of registry with the bore of the cylinder, and means for scavenging said combustion chamber while out of registry with said bore, said scavenging means comprising a conduit having a port registering with said combustion chamber and a fan in said conduit to expel the waste products in said combustion chamber.

a. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder having an enlarged head portion, said head portion having intake and exhaust ports, and a semi circular bore, a detachable housing having a semi-circular bore adapted to be secured to said head portion to form a circular bore, said housing having an opening, a valve member rotatable in said circular bore having a plurality of combustion chambers, a

piston in said cylinder, and means for scavenging the waste products in the combustion chamber when said chambers are in registry with the opening in said detachable housing, and for causing a continuous flow of cooling air over the outer wall of said. valve member. I I

5. In an'internal combustion engine, the combination-of a cylinder having an enlarged head portion, said head portion having intake and exhaust ports, and a semicircular bore, a detachable housing having a semi-circular bore adapted to be se'cured to said head portion to form a circular bore, said housing having an opening, a valve member rotatable in said circular bore having a plurality of combustion chambers, a piston in said cylinder, and means including a conduit having an opening in the detach-- able housing and an air propeller in said conduit to expel the waste products of combustion when said combustion chambers are in registry with the opening in said housing.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder having a water jacket, a piston in said cylinder, a valve member rotatable in relation to the cylinder and having a plurality of combustion chambers which move. into and out of registry with the bore of said cylinder, said valve member having passageways surrounding saidcombustion chambers, and means; for

circulating a cooling agent through said passageways, and means for inducing a constant flow of cooling medium to scavenge said combustion chambers.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder having an enlarged'head portion, said head portion having intake and exhaust ports, and a semicircular bore, a detachable housing having a semi-circular bore adapted to be secured to said head portion to form a circular bore, said housing having an opening, a valve member rotatable in said circular bore having a plurality ofcombustion chambers, a piston in said cylinder, and means including a flow of cooling air for scavenging the waste products in the combustion chamber when said chambers are in registry with the opening in said detachable housing, and said other combustion chambers areout of registry with the bore of said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILBURN H. HENDERSON. 

